Just In: Two Australian Bars Have Cracked the World’s 50 Best Bars List for 2025

They’ve bloody done it. Again.

Two of Australia’s best bars – Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage and Sydney’s Maybe Sammy – have cracked the The World’s 50 Best Bars list for consecutive years. “Probably Victoria’s smallest pub” came in at number 19, while Vegas-inspired Sammy landed at number 42.

Our Hot-Listed venues were named at an awards ceremony attended by the who’s who of the bartending world, held at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong last night. The annual ranking is judged by a panel of more than 800 drinks experts, comprising consultants, writers and cocktail specialists from around the world.

It’s been a big year for both bar teams, and the accolade is sure to be the cherry on top. Last month, Caretaker’s opened a sherry-focused sequel, Three Horses, just 15 metres behind the flagship. Maybe Sammy, meanwhile, unveiled a new menu inspired by the big screen, complete with a Crocodile Dundee Highball (finished with freeze-dried ants) and trailers for each drink.

Another top Australian bar – Melbourne’s Byrdi – made the long list at 91 last month, slipping from last year’s position of 35. Though it didn’t make it into the 50 club, Sydney dual bar concept Tigra & Disco Pantera was awarded Best Bar Design for its use of reclaimed materials, including Bendigo pottery tiles from the 1950s.

Snagging first place was Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, which pipped last year’s winner, Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy, at number two.

The ranking makes Caretaker’s Cottage the best bar in Australasia for the second year in a row, and continues Maybe Sammy’s seven-year hot streak in the top 50. No real shake-ups there.

theworlds50best.com/bars